Gummy bear carnage on East 10th Street

Photo today near Avenue A by Grant Shaffer...

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Eva Dorsey
Occupation: Co-owner, Jane’s Exchange, Children’s Resale & Consignment Shop
Location: 191 East 3rd St. (between A and B)
Time: 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1

I was born on Jane Street in the West Village. I’m a native New Yorker but I didn’t stay long. My dad was a teacher and we had to move out to Connecticut. I came back several times for short periods before finally settling here in 1986. I decided to finish my degree in Theatre Criticism at the CUNY graduate center.

I moved to 7th Street and Avenue B because of the affordability. Heroin and cocaine were sold big time on 7th Street there. The big guy was right across the street from me and he got away with it for so long because he ran a dojo. What he’d do — it was really smart — was he kept all the kids off the street instead of going into gangs or this or that, but he was selling drugs at the same time. If my mother would come to visit in her car, he would carry her suitcases. He decorated the street for Christmas with the lights and did little parties. He kind of wined and dined the block and then at the same time was doing all this stuff.

I remember the big drug bust in the mid 1990s. I was right there. It was huge. They did it at midnight. They had helicopters light the street. It looked like it was three in the afternoon. There were so many helicopters and all the drug guys were lying down on the street. The Feds, I guess, came in from the roofs. It was a huge bust and pretty incredible how fast they did it and how well planned it was. That bust changed my street for years to come. The street was no longer protected by the drug dealers and ironically became more unsafe.

I became pregnant, which was a shock because I had been “diagnosed” as infertile after a number of attempts with invitro fertilization. I was very excited because I had wanted to have a child. I was adjunct teaching at Hunter College and working on my dissertation. I thought, I can have a child and work on my dissertation — of course I didn’t.

In preparation for my baby, I discovered consignment shopping because I didn’t have money. I discovered these consignment stores, but they were all on the Upper East Side — and they weren’t that cheap. It occurred to me that we could use a children’s consignment store downtown. There seemed to be so many families in the East Village. I thought that maybe I could start one as a single parent, be able to have my daughter with me, and make a living that way. That was 21 years ago. I was scared to death because I don’t come from a business family at all. When you enter the business world and know nothing about it, it’s a little overwhelming.

Before I started Jane’s Exchange, I created these silly little flyers saying, "If I open a store like this, would you bring me stuff and would you shop there?" I got very good feedback from people. I had little savings and was very fortunate when Anna Pastoressa, owner of Cassia, a vintage store named after her daughter, rented me half her store for a very reasonable amount on the corner of 7th and B. It was thrilling when people arrived with bags of clothes and toys – mostly donations to help open the store. Eventually Anna and I ran Jane’s Exchange together. This was 21 years ago. Then in 1999, I lost a lease but gained a great business partner, Gayle Raskin, who is still with me after 16 years.

We are a children’s and maternity consignment shop. People make an appointment to bring their things in, we sell them, and they get 30 percent of the sale to use as credit for the store. We don’t pay out. I used to pay out a long time ago but forget that. Our accountant said keep going with that and you’ll be out of business. It’s been a lovely way to raise my daughter and have it such a community-based place. I’ve met great, unbelievable people. We get all these different economic groups in, but just a lot of these lovely people who have been in the neighborhood for years.

The other nice thing is ... with environmental issues going on now, it helps kids to understand the idea of recycling, because they are literally bringing their own things in. Sometimes it’s not easy for a child to part with something, but we explain to them how it works and I think that’s a good thing to learn at a young age. You don’t throw out what can be used by other people.

Unfortunately, our current lease is up as of June 2016. We’re just announcing it now to our customers. This is our third location. We keep losing our leases. That’s the story. These stores can’t maintain anymore. Stores like this, it’s the end, period. Everyone asks why aren’t there more. There aren’t more because of real estate. I don’t know what’s going to happen, like everyone else, but it is highly unlikely that we can move again should our lease go up beyond our means. Like many small businesses, we simply may not make it. If this happens, I think it will be missed.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Dusty Buttons has a new home on East 9th Street

In July, the 6-year-old vintage boutique Dusty Buttons closed at 441 E. Ninth St. after newish landlord Icon Realty served them with a 125 percent rent increase.

After exploring possible locations in Philadelphia for the shop, owner Amanda Loureiro and her husband Peter were able to find a new space closer to home — in fact just one block away.

On Monday, Loureiro signed the lease for 324 E. Ninth St. (the storefront next to Sakaya) between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

"We are staying in the East Village," Loureiro posted on Facebook. "We have a lot of work to do on this old beauty but hope to be open for early October."

Previously on EV Grieve:
On East 9th Street Dusty Buttons is closing after 125% rent hike: 'Saying goodbye will hurt like hell'

Brookhill Properties launches chocolate offensive

Raphael Toledano's Brookhill Properties recently closed on a 16-building East Village portfolio.

An EVG reader who lives at one of the properties, 327 E. E. 12th St., passed along the welcome package that the Brookhill Property management team left yesterday for residents — a small box of chocolates… which accompanied a fairly innocuous letter about the change in ownership.

The letter points out that "We pride ourselves on our tenant relations department and will go to all lengths to make sure that you are satisfied with our services."

Beleaguered rent-regulated tenants at the Toledano-owned 444 E. 13th St. received wine and fruit baskets back in May after the continued lack of basic building services. Earlier in May, residents at No. 444 filed a lawsuit against Toledano and the management company, Goldmark Property Management, for "deplorable conditions" as well as for alleged ongoing threats and harassment. (Toledano later reportedly fired Goldmark Property Management after news of the lawsuit broke.)

In August, state officials served subpoenas on Goldmark Property Managmenet, investigating whether the company threatened tenants with police raids, prostitution stings, evictions and the shut off of essential service, according to The Real Deal.

According to an article on 444. E. 13th St. that City Limits published last Thursday, there were 244 open violations of the city's housing maintenance code for hazards such as cracks in the walls and ceilings and infestations of cockroaches, mice, and bedbugs at one point in June. Since then, City Limits reports that the number of open violations at the East 13th Street building has been reduced to 84.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Landlord of 444 E. 13th St. threatened 'to drop dynamite on the building'

Reader report: Large portfolio of East Village buildings ready to change hands

Report: State investigating East Village landlord Raphael Toledano

Report: Uncle suing nephew broker Raphael Toledano over $100 million East Village deal

Report: Raphael Toledano completes purchase of 16-building East Village portfolio

Updated: East Village Cheese opens Friday

[Photo yesterday by Derek Berg]

That's the word from workers here at 80 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue… where the East Village Cheese Shop relocated from Third Avenue earlier last month.

While the space had been under renovation in recent weeks, we hadn't heard about an opening date just yet.

The shop's lease at 40 Third Ave. between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street was up at the end of July, with its former neighbor Duane Reade eventually expected to expand into the adjacent storefronts.

Updated 9/25

Word is now Tuesday, Sept. 29 for the opening…

Previously on EV Grieve:
Rumors: Duane Reade expansion will take over adjacent storefronts, including East Village Cheese (74 comments)

[Updated] Confirmed: East Village Cheese will be moving to Avenue A later this year

East Village Cheese makes move to 7th Street official

[Updated] Work starts on new home of the East Village Cheese Shop

Looking at the incoming East Village Cheese shop on East 7th Street

Spot trying the same spot for another dessert concept

After just nine months in business, Spot Dessert Shoppe — the quick-serve second location of Spot on St. Mark's Place — has closed…

Signs now point to Spot 1/2 Dessert Bar opening at 5 St. Mark's Place near Third Avenue on Oct. 1 …



The 5-year-old Spot Dessert Bar remains open at 13 St. Mark's Place.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Jum Mum becoming another Spot for dessert on St. Mark's Place

Noted

Among the observations on the NYC real-estate market via a piece published this evening at DNAinfo:

Manhattan's Lower East Side continues its ascendance as the borough's hippest neighborhood: It's seeing a "significantly higher price point" and "a very different audience," especially when compared to neighboring East Village, said Jeffrey Schleider, of Miron Properties.

"The East Village is post-collegiate frat boy, where the Lower East Side is cool, artistic, fashion," he said, noting how one of the buildings they run in the area has attracted art dealers, kids of famous actors and others.

Avenue A Copy Center is now open (on Avenue A)

The Copy Center opened today at 47 Avenue A between East Third Street and East Fourth Street (in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers) … and from the look of the Grand Opening banner, it appears that the shop does a little bit of everything — business cards, brochures, menus, flyers and postcards…

As we understand it, the Copy Center is run by the folks who own the Essex Card Shop at 39 Avenue A.

The space was home to Galleria J. Antonio, who reopened in a smaller storefront two doors down in August.

Chef Wylie Dufresne's former Alder space for rent on 2nd Avenue

[Photo by Vinny & O from Sept. 14]

After two-and-a-half years in business, Chef Wylie Dufresne closed Alder, his well-regarded bistro at 157 Second Ave., at the end of August.

As far as we understand, Dufresne never provided a reason for the closure, which took some fine-food watchers by surprise. (Eater, who first reported the news on Aug. 3, theorized that "it sounds like a rent hike might have something to do with it.")

Now the space between East Ninth Street and East 10th Street is on the market. Here are details via the listing at Sinvin:

Description:
• Gorgeous, brand new, custom, million dollar renovation built for a Michelin chef
• Fully built and equipped restaurant
• Full 2 am liquor license to be transferred
• Vibrant late night neighborhood in the heart of the East Village on the best block of Second Avenue
• 56 seats plus 15 at the bar and outdoor seating for 16
• Formerly Alder

Term:
8.5 years (possible extension to 10 years)

Price:
$17,389/month

Key Money:
$395,000

Commission is co-broke of 16% of the key money

Well, there will likely be plenty of commenters to take exception to the listing saying that this stretch here is "the best block of Second Avenue."

No. 157 was previously the address for several restaurants before Alder opened in the spring of 2013, including Plum … and Cafe Brama.

At Clash City Tattoo

Clash City Tattoo opened late last month at 273 E. 10th St. between First Avenue and Avenue A. EVG contributor Stacie Joy recently stopped by to meet owner and proprietor Barry "Baz" Shailes ...

I showed up to watch Baz, who has been a tattoo artist for 16 years, ink a cover-up piece on James Peterson, a partner at Tompkins Square Bagels. Baz welcomed me from behind his tiki-bar reception station into the red, black and white space, where the likes of the Cramps and (no surprise!) the Clash were playing on the sound system.

Baz left his last employer, New York Hardcore Tattoo on Stanton Street, to open his own place with the help of his wife. The two looked at many spaces, but felt as if this block was especially vibrant, and with the added bonus of Tompkins Square Park being so close.



While working on a cover-up or reworking of a sugar skull tattoo on James, Baz spoke about a variety of topics, such as single-use and vegan inks and harm-reduction. He feels education is more important than penalization, and wishes that online sellers like Amazon and eBay would stop peddling inking machines to unlicensed, untrained people who do tattoos from their kitchens or basements.







On Stanton Street, Baz said that he would often get the drunk brunch crowd stopping by, though they most often balked at the price.

In general, Baz, a Liverpool native, says that he tries to steer people away from names (although he and his wife have their names inked on each other), and first-timers away from visible ink on their hands, faces and necks. He laments that people are still judged in society for things like tattoos. A lot of people just get one because they "look fucking cool," he says.

Baz even gave his mother a tattoo — a scorpion on her shoulder, before noting that women have a higher pain threshold than men and cheerfully announced, "Men are pussies. Men pass out, women don’t."

Allied Hardware makes impending closure official on 2nd Avenue

Earlier this year, when Icon Realty became the new owner of 57 Second Ave., a reliable source told us that the two retail tenants here between East Third Street and East Fourth Street would be closing in the months ahead.

Alex Shoe Repair shut down at the end of July. The cobbler had been paying $4,000 in monthly rent. The new asking price is $14,000 a month.

Now Allied Hardware has posted closing signs … with sales on everything (but keys) …



We're not sure what the family who runs Allied pays in monthly rent. According to the listing at the Icon website, the new asking rent is $26,000 … with a space "perfect For: Restaurant, bar, clothing store, salon, and all general retail uses."

Previously on EV Grieve:
57 Second Ave. hits the market for $30 million

Reader report: Icon Realty new owner of 57 Second Ave.

Last day for Alex Shoe Repair on 2nd Avenue

A reminder about Rainbow Music closing at the end of the month

In case you wanted one last look at the stacks of CDs, DVDs and cassettes at Rainbow Music… the store at 130 First Ave. near St. Mark's Place is closing on Sept. 30…





As previously reported, the proprietor, the Birdman, is retiring and closing his 17-year-old store.

Noted

By now, perhaps, you've seen the viral video of the rat dragging a slice of pizza down the stairs to the L train platform at First Avenue and East 14th Street last night.

If not, then you can watch the video and read an interview with the man who shot it at DNAinfo here. (Matt Little was returning to Bushwick after working at Upright Citizens Brigade on Avenue A.)

Meanwhile, The New Yorker has an essay from the pizza rat — Paul, who has lived in the East Village his whole life. (Four months.)

A mural for 7th and B

As previously noted, GRIMACE and Pablo Ancona started working Saturday on a collaborative mural on East Seventh Street at Avenue B (commissioned by the building's co-op board)…

Derek Berg caught the work at the very beginning…





… and yesterday afternoon, Stacie Joy stopped by for an update…







… and a look at the finished work…

The last record store on St. Mark's Place is closing

[EVG file photo]

Sounds is shutting down soon at 20 St. Mark's Place between Second Avenue and Third Avenue. The final sale is on now.



There's not much left inside…


[Photo from Saturday by Jeff Stache]

The shop has been around longer than we expected. News of the impending closure first arrived in February 2014.

The second-level retail space remains on the market. There isn't any mention of the rent on the listing.

Sounds joins the ranks of other CD/record shops that have closed on (or near) St. Mark's Place in recent years ... Joe's CDs, 13 CDs, Venus Records, Mondo Kim's, Smash, Norman's, Rockit Scientist Records...

Updated 4 p.m. — You can read some history of Sounds via this HuffPost article from 2010.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Soon, there won't be any record stores on St. Mark's Place, and that sucks

You can check out the other record stores in the neighborhood, including Good Records NYC ... Turntable Lab ... A-1 Records ... Other Music ... Academy Records ... Rainbow Music (until Sept. 30)...

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office continues slow march toward demolition

Workers erected the sidewalk bridge and scaffolding on the East 13th Street side of the the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office two weeks ago.

They did the same on the East 14th Street side on Friday and Saturday…





As previously noted, an 8-story retail-residential building — featuring 114 apartments — will eventually rise here.

The PO closed in February 2014, though some frustrated patrons wish it had been demolished sooner.

No word just yet what impact the sidewalk bridge will have on the building's western corner…



Previously on EV Grieve:
UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

Report: Closure of the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office is pretty much a done deal

First sign of more development on East 14th Street?

Asbestos abatement to begin at former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office

Davey drill arrives ahead of rumored development at former East 14th Street post office

Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office closer to demolition

Construction watch: 356 E. Eighth St.

The townhouse at 356 E. Eighth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D had been on and off the market in recent years (here and here).

The listing pitched the space for "high-end apartments or a luxury home."

Now it appears the new owner — an LLC that shares the address with M Development in Queens — opted for the apartment route. Recently approved work permits show that the existing 4-level structure will receive two new floors and a mezzanine.

Here's the all-cap DOBese:

FILED HEREWITH PLANS AND APPLICATIONS TO ADD A SIX STORY HORIZONTAL REAR ENLARGEMENT AND A THREE STORY + MEZZANINE VERTICAL ENLARGEMENT WITH SIX FAMILIES TO AN EXISTING FOUR STORY, THREE FAMILY BUILDING.

And here's a look at the rendering on the plywood…

Condo conversion or single-family home among the possibilities for 35 E. 7th St.

The townhouse between Second Avenue and Cooper Square is new to the market.

Here's a look at the listing from Halstead:

...the location couldn't be better for an end-user, investor, or developer looking for an opportunity in the heart of one of the most sought-after parts of the city. Located just a half block east of charming Cooper Square and less than 400' from 2nd Ave, the property is a perfect centerpiece to the vibrant neighborhood. With turn-of-the-century details on a shady section of the street, you'd be hard pressed to find a more quintessential downtown Manhattan property with substantial upside.

The 25' wide property consists of 5 units, 4 of which are free market and 1 of which is rent controlled. Two of the free market tenants have no lease. With a max FAR of 4, the property offers approximately 2,000 additional buildable SF. Unlock substantial upside via increased rents and/or additional rentable square footage, take advantage of this prime condo conversion opportunity, or convert to an incredible single family home.

Price: $5.7 million

No. 35 is the second townhouse on this block to hit the market this past week, joining No. 25.

Juice Press is up to something on East 1st Street

There are some new messages on the windows of the empty boutique next to the flagship Juice Press … here on East First Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue…

The writing on the door reads…



"The East Village is the only hope I have left of being fucking cool. This store is the incubator for my next food concept. I hope I don't fail."

And!



Not sure what any of this is supposed to mean. Before opening the East First Street shop in 2010, JP founder Marcus Antebi put up signs announcing a Robot Daycare and NY Academy of Mime, among other things, coming soon.

Perhaps this space will serve as JP's test kitchen. They lost that space when JP closed the location on East 10th Street near Avenue A in the spring after the landlord — Steve Croman — apparently continued to drag out repairs in the building.

Raccoon sighting on Avenue A

The new marquee went up last week at 206 Avenue A, where a bar-cocktail lounge is opening in the former Common Ground space between East 12th Street and East 13th Street.

We haven't heard too much about the new establishment just yet. Last November, the proprietors of The Garret — a rather hidden cocktail lounge above a Five Guys on Bleecker Street — went before the CB3/SLA committee for a new liquor license for the address.

However, CB3 denied the application, citing concern from neighbors and the applicant's inexperience operating a business, among other reasons, according to the minutes (PDF!) of that month's meeting.

Apparently the owners were able to secure a license directly from the State Liquor Authority.

The Garret's menu on Bleecker Street includes a slate of draft beers (priced $7 to $9) and house cocktails with names like A What What and Missus Wheeler ($14-18). As for the raccoon in a bow tie on the sign, the Garret has a character named Rocco on its website.

Common Ground closed at the end of April after 10 years in the location.